Chargers come back after tough opening loss

by Dennis Sharkey

The Jefferson County North Chargers headed into the McLouth tournament with high expectations but had to rebound to finish fifth.

JCN’s Spencer Wentz went to the basket for a bucket in the Chargers’ win over Oskaloosa Friday night in the McLouth invitational second round. Wentz had four points for the Chargers. Photo by Brad Roudybush

The Chargers came into the tournament last week off a loss to Atchison County Community High School-Effingham and only two losses on the season. The other loss was to first round opponent Jefferson County West.

In the first match up the Tigers’ Dillon Roy torched the Chargers but Head Coach Jim Brickell said on Monday that guard Cory Brown was the difference.

“Roy we knew would get some points on us but I thought Brown really played well for them,” Brickell said.

Brickell said his team got their confidence back Friday night with a commanding 70 to 49 win over the Oskaloosa Bears.

The game was tied at 12 after one period but the Chargers went on a run in the second quarter to lead by nine points at the half and cruised in the second half.

The Chargers got back to playing like a team and were more inspired. Three players were in double figures Friday night with senior Jeff Hale leading the way with 16 points followed by Dalton Minor with 14 points and Jacob GrandPre with 12 points.

In both wins, Hale led the team on the floor and in scoring.

“We have to get a lot of inside shots,” Brickell said. “It’s nice to have almost four guys in double figures each game.

“That’s what you hope happens and I saw more of that on Friday and Saturday,” he added.

In that game Adam Bowser had 21 points followed by Levi Wade with 16 points for the Bears.

On Saturday night versus Marantha Academy Brickell said his team played inspired at times but would fall back into a rut once a lead was established.

After one quarter JCN had a one-point edge at 11-10. After the timeout Maranatha went on an 11-0 run and JCN found themselves in a 10-point hole. Brickell said his team battled back to take a lead but Maranatha hit a bucket at the end of the second quarter to go back in front 29-28.

“It just seemed like a game where we were going to play when we got down but when we were ahead we didn’t play inspired.”

The teams were tied after three quarters but the Chargers found enough to edge Maranatha by four points in the fourth quarter to win 60-56.

On Saturday Hale led the Chargers with 14 points followed by Dalton Minor with 12 points and Dominic Kingman with 11 points.